Coronary Artery Disease

Definition

Coronary arteries bring oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is narrowing of these arteries. If the blockage is complete, areas of the heart muscle may be damaged. In a severe case, the heart muscle dies. This can lead to a heart attack, also known as a
myocardial infarction
(MI).

A diet that is high in saturated fat,
trans
fat, cholesterol, and/or calories

Drinking sugary beverages on a regular basis

Symptoms

CAD may progress without any symptoms.

Angina
is chest pain that comes and goes. It often has a squeezing or pressure-like quality. It may radiate into the shoulder(s), arm(s), or jaw. Angina usually lasts for about 2-10 minutes. It is often relieved with rest. Angina can be triggered by:

Exercise or exertion

Emotional stress

Cold weather

A large meal

Chest pain may indicate more serious unstable angina or a heart attack if it includes the following:

It is unrelieved by rest or nitroglycerin

Severe angina

Angina that begins at rest

Angina that lasts more than 15 minutes

Accompanying symptoms may include:

Shortness of breath

Sweating

Nausea

Weakness

Immediate medical attention is needed for unstable angina. CAD in women may not cause typical symptoms. It is likely to start with shortness of breath and fatigue.

Diagnosis

If you go to the emergency room with chest pain, some tests will be done right away. The tests will attempt to see if you are having angina or a heart attack. If you have a stable pattern of angina, other tests may be done to determine the severity of your disease.

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

You may need to have your bodily fluids tested. This can be done with blood tests.

You may need to have pictures taken of your heart. This can be done with:

Treatment

Treatment may include:

Nitroglycerin

This medication is usually given during an attack of angina. It can be given as a tablet that dissolves under the tongue or as a spray. Longer-lasting types can be used to prevent angina before an activity known to cause it. These may be given as pills or applied as patches or ointments.

Blood-Thinning Medications

A small, daily dose of aspirin has been shown to decrease the risk of heart attack. Ask your doctor before taking aspirin daily.

Other blood-thinning medications may be prescribed.

Beta-Blockers, Calcium-Channel Blockers, and ACE-Inhibitors

These may help prevent angina. In some cases, they may lower the risk of heart attack.

Medications to Lower Cholesterol

Medications, like statins, are often prescribed to people who have CAD. Statins lower cholesterol levels, which can help to prevent CAD events.

Revascularization

Patients with severe blockages in their coronary arteries may benefit from procedures to immediately improve blood flow to the heart muscle:

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI)—such as
balloon angioplasty
, in some cases, a wire mesh
stent
is placed to hold the artery open

Options for Refractory Angina

For patients who are not candidates for revascularization procedures, but have continued angina despite medication, options include:

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP)—large air bags are inflated around the legs in tune with the heart beat. The patient receives 5 1-hour treatments per week for 7 weeks. This has been shown to reduce angina and may improve symptom-free exercise duration.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.